5 Enchanting Scottish Island Holiday Ideas for Autumn

Looking for a cosy break away to re-charge your batteries before winter sets in? Autumn is a great time of year for a Scottish island holiday.

The changing season brings beautiful autumn colours to the landscapes and darker night skies glitter with thousands of bright stars, and – if you’re lucky – the Northern Lights. Autumn’s the perfect time to soak up the beauty that summer visitors won’t get to experience.

Seilebost, Luskentyre Sands, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

Autumn is also a quieter time of year. If you want to have paradise beaches and stunning viewpoints all to yourself – this is the season to visit.

On a practical side, ferry and flight services continue to operate all year round, and restaurants, accommodation and many attractions also remain open for business.

Ready to start planning your autumn island holiday? Check out these five ideas for an enchanting island break:

1. Stargazing on the Isle of Coll

Best for

Stargazing, coastal walks and photography

Things to do

Stargazing – the Isle of Coll is a designated Dark Sky Island and, with little to no light pollution, is one of the best places in the UK to view the inky black night sky. Autumn is the perfect time to experience this beautiful natural phenomenon. With sunset taking place much earlier than in the summer months, you’ll have plenty of time to absorb the crystal clear skies around you.

Walking – the Isle of Coll is a relatively flat island, with plenty of beautiful beaches to explore, alongside stunning views across the sea to its neighbouring islands. Much of the island is an RSPB reserve and there are plenty of lovely walks that will allow you to explore this beautiful place.

Eating out

Pop into the Island Café for a huge range of tempting dishes, from light lunches to full roast dinners, or head along to The Gannet Restaurant at the Isle of Coll Hotel for hearty meals made from locally sourced ingredients, including seafood, lamb and beef.

Getting there

The ferry from Oban in Argyll to Arinagour on the Isle of Coll takes 2 hours and 30 minutes and runs all year round. Check out the summer ferry timetable (valid late March till late October) and the winter ferry timetable (valid late October till late March) and book your tickets with CalMac.

Accommodation

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2. Food and drink on Arran

Best for

Food and drink, outdoor adventures, nature

Things to do

Tour the Isle of Arran Distillery – book a tour of the Isle of Arran Distillery to learn how whisky is made, beginning with the malting of the barley to the maturing of the spirit. You’ll also get a dram of whisky to try, along with a taste of the special Arran Gold liqueur.

Eating and drinking – as well as tasting a nip of whisky, you could also visit the Island Cheese Shop or the Arran Creamery Cheese Shop for a taste of tangy island cheese. While you’re on the island look out for chances to try a huge range of local produce from Taste of Arran, including ice cream, oatcakes, haggis, black pudding, chocolates and much more.

Go for a hike – with its rugged peaks and granite ridges to the north and beautiful flatter landscapes in the south, Arran offers a great variety of walking routes.

Visit Machrie Moor – Arran’s most famous historical sites are the other-worldly Machrie Moor standing stone circles. Comprised of six stone circles, these ancient standing stones have stood on the site for centuries – the oldest dates from 3500 BC – and there is a lovely walking route out to visit them.

Spot wildlife – Arran is home to a number of year-round species, including beautiful red deer (frequently spotted in woodland, on hills and close to the Isle of Arran Distillery), red squirrels (look out for them at Brodick Castle Woods, North Sannox Wood and Glenashdale Forest) and harbour seals (see them at King’s Cave, Newton Shore, Kildonan shore and Lochranza).

Getting there

The ferry from Ardrossan in Ayrshire to Brodick on the Isle of Arran takes around 55 minutes and runs all year round. Check out the summer ferry timetable (valid late March till late October) and the winter ferry timetable (valid late October till late March) and book your tickets with CalMac.

Accommodation

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3. Arts, crafts and culture on Shetland

Best for

Art and crafts, Northern Lights, geology and nature

Things to do

Find unique arts and crafts – browse Shetland Arts & Crafts to find talented makers and follow the Craft Trail to see where you’ll find them on the islands. In September you can also take part in the events at Shetland Wool Week, where you can also buy handmade woollen items, including knitwear in the famous Fair Isle pattern.

See the Northern Lights – as the most northerly island group in Scotland, you stand a good chance of spotting the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) in Shetland – when conditions are right! Known locally as the ‘mirrie dancers’, the lights are most commonly seen from mid-October till mid-March. Sign up to alerts from the aurora forecast for the best chance to see them.

Hear live music – Shetland is home to a vibrant music scene and you can regularly hear live music in the towns’ pubs and events spaces.

Outdoor adventures – from walking and cycling to kayaking and diving, Shetland is full of potential for outdoor adventures. As you explore the islands, keep an eye out for adorable Shetland ponies, birds and sea life. Have a look at what blogger Challenge Sophie got up to on her visit to Shetland.

Snap pictures of Geopark Shetland – Shetland is one of three geoparks in Scotland. As you explore, pay attention to the natural features around you – this land is millions of years old and contains world-class examples of geology.

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4. History and shopping on Orkney

Best for

Ancient places, folklore, arts and crafts

Things to do

Shop for unique gifts – with jewellery makers, silversmiths, artists, woodworkers and more, Orkney is home to a whole range to talented artists and crafts people. Find unique gifts for yourself and your loved ones on the Orkney Craft Trail.

Northern Lights spotting – like Shetland, Orkney’s northern location makes it a great place to spot the Northern Lights (aurora borealis). Autumn and winter is a great time to visit as mid-October till mid-March is the best time to see them. Follow the aurora forecast to get aurora alerts.

Delve into Orkney’s history – with a colourful past that dates back thousands of years, Orkney is a treasure trove of historic sites. The most famous is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Heart of Neolithic Orkney – which is made up of two standing stone circles (the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness), Skara Brae (an ancient Neolithic settlement) and Maeshowe (a Neolithic chambered tomb). All four sites are open all year round.

Hear enchanting stories – passing down folklore is a strong tradition in Orkney and it’s celebrated every year at the Orkney Storytelling Festival in October. Book tickets to events and hear myths, Viking legends, traditional songs and stories. Outwith the festival you can also visit the Orkney Folklore & Storytelling Centre.

Getting there

Ferry – the ferry from Scrabster in the North Highlands to Stromness in Orkney takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. The route from Aberdeen to Kirkwall in Orkney takes around 6 hours. Both routes run all year round. View the summer and winter timetables and book your tickets with NorthLink Ferries. Pentland Ferries operate from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope and the journey time is around 1 hour, while the ferry from John O’Groats to Burwick by John O’Groats Ferries (May – September) takes around 40 minutues.

Flying – there are year-round flights to Kirkwall in Orkney from a number of airports: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Sumburgh. Book your flight with Loganair.

Accommodation

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5. Outdoor adventures in Lewis & Harris

Best for

Nature walks, beautiful beaches, stunning viewpoints

Things to do

Outdoors adventures – from invigorating clifftop strolls to challenging hill climbs, there are plenty of fantastic walking routes on the Outer Hebrides. If you’re looking for a faster pace, horse riding is a great way to see the islands, while the stunning, 185 mile long Hebridean Way – which can either be walked or cycled – will set you a real challenge (or smaller ones if you want to do part of the route). Read about blogger Challenge Sophie’s choice of 10 hidden treasures in the Outer Hebrides.

Enjoy the beautiful beaches – autumn is a wonderful time to visit Lewis and Harris as you’re very likely to have the islands’ world-renowned beaches all to yourself. Head to beaches such as Luskentyre, Seilebost and Hushinish to stroll along pure white sands and breathe in fresh sea air.

Find hidden gems – the Outer Hebrides are packed with hidden gems to discover. The coastline and hill tops offer plenty of jaw dropping viewpoints, golden eagles soar in the sky above and there are plenty of local crafts and cosy pubs to uncover. Read our blog on 12 quirky experiences in the Outer Hebrides for more suggestions.

Discover Harris Tweed – visit the Harris Tweed Authority Brand Room in Stornoway to learn about the heritage behind Harris Tweed and see how it is transformed from pure raw wool to the colourful cloth that is famous around the world.

Tour the Isle of Harris Distillery – located in Tarbert, the Isle of Harris Distillery opened in 2015 and is known as the ‘social distillery’ thanks to its strong community ethos and the warm welcome you’ll receive. Book a tour to discover how they craft their whisky – The Hearach – and their gin – Harris Gin – and stop for a tasty lunch in the canteen.

Eating out

Try eateries including the Anchorage Restaurant in Leverburgh and Croft 36 in Northton – both on Harris – or The Verandah at 40 North in North Bragar and Digby Chick in Stornoway – both on Lewis. While you’re on the islands, be sure to try a taste of traditional Stornoway Black Pudding, which is PGI protected and can only be made within the town or parish of Stornoway.

Getting there

Ferry – the ferry from Ullapool in the Highlands to Stornoway on Lewis takes around 2 hours 45 minutes. The route from Uig on the Isle of Skye to Tarbert on Harris takes around 1 hour 40 minutes. Both run all year round. Lewis and Harris are two parts of one island, so you can easily explore both during your visit. Book your tickets with CalMac.

Flying – there are year-round direct flights to Stornoway in Lewis from a number of airports: Aberdeen, Benbecula, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Book your flight with Loganair.